Band FAQ
© Metclub - Data Re-Printed.
How
did the band start... How did Lars and James first meet?
Lars had taken out an ad in a newspaper called the Recycler, saying
he was looking for people to jam with.
James answered the ad, and was unimpressed with Lars' playing, partly
due to the fact that Lars' cymbals
fell over every time he hit them. Shortly after, Lars went to England
to follow his favorite band, Diamond Head
on tour, and after returning to the States got a spot on Brian Slagel's
"Metal Massacre" album. Using this as
bait, he talked James into recording a song for the album, and the rest
is history.
Where
did the name Metallica come from?
Lars stole it. "Mr. Metal" of San Francisco, Ron Quintana,
was getting ready to launch a metal fanzine and
he had a few names. He asked his friend Lars for help.. after hearing
the name "Metallica", Lars quickly
suggested a different name and kept "Metallica" for himself!
Who
are all the former and current members of the band?
James, Lars, Kirk, Jason all current. Cliff Burton died 9-27-86. Dave
Mustaine lead guitar, Ron McGovney bass, both 'removed.' Damien
Philips, one appearance in concert as a second guitarist, Lloyd Grant
not
really a member, but recorded some lead work to the first recording
of
"Hit The Lights".
Where
did recorded Metallica first appear?
On "Metal Massacre I," the very first Metallica song called
"Hit The
Lights" appeared. That song featured James on vocals, rhythm guitar
and
bass! Lars on drums, Mustaine on lead guitar, and another guitar player
named Lloyd Grant added the 2nd
guitar solo. Later issuing's of "Metal Massacre" included
a different version of the song with McGovney on
bass and without Grant.
When
and where was the first Metallica show?
Featuring Ron McGovney on bass and Dave Mustaine on guitar, Metallica's
first show was at Radio City in
Anaheim, CA. The date is said to be March 14,1982.
When
was Metallica's first tour?
July 27 - September 3, 1983
Who
designed the Metallica logo?
James is responsible for the original logo and the new Metallica star
logo.
Metallica
moved from LA to SF, why?
Cliff lived in SF and refused to move to LA. In order to get Cliff as
the bass
player the band had to relocate.
What
happened to Cliff Burton, the former bass player?
Cliff was killed in a bus accident en route from Stockholm, Sweden to
their
next show in the early morning hours of September 27, 1986
I have
a record/tape that says Megaforce records on it, who are they?
Megaforce records signed Metallica in 1983, after the band traveled
from their
home in SF to Megaforce's location in New Jersey. Megaforce released
Kill 'Em All and Ride The Lightning in
North America. Elektra came into the picture shortly after the release
of Ride The Lightning.
What
is the Make-A-Wish foundation?
It is an organization that attempts to make the wishes of seriously
ill youngsters come true. Metallica
actively support and assist as often as possible.
Primus
- Faith No More - Metallica... What's the connection?
Kirk and Les Claypool from Primus grew up and went to the same school
together in El Sobrante, CA. Big
Jim Martin (the old guitar player in FNM) and Cliff were best friends
as kids and in several bands together,
Cliff also knew Mike Bordin (another friend of Kirk's, the drummer in
FNM) and actually suggested Jim to
Mike for the guitar duties in FNM.
What
is "Alcoholica"?
A nickname for Metallica, given to them somewhere in Europe in 1985,
because of their love of drinking, A
fan was spotted wearing a T-shirt he had made of the cover of Kill 'Em
All, only instead of a hammer and
blood, the T-shirt showed a bottle spilling Vodka. The band members
liked it so much, they adopted it for
their own use.
Who
does Metallica's artwork?
Pushead (Brian Schroeder) and Mark DeVito do a majority of the artwork
for T-shirts and merchandise;
James came up with the Scary Guy and "4 M's- Ninja Star" logos.
Each album cover is a different and unique situation. Load and ReLoad
featured the art of Andres Serrano.
What
happened to John Smith, the kid from the "Year & a Half in
the Life" video?
John passed away a few months after.
What
is the music played as Metallica's live show introduction?
Metallica plays Ecstasy of Gold by Ennio Morricone, from the Clint Eastwood
flick 'The Good, The Bad and the Ugly' before taking the stage.
What
is Spastic Children?
Spastic Children was a "joke band" created originally by James,
Cliff, Jumbo, Fred Cotton and James
(Flunky) McDaniel. Spastic never practiced and played rather ludicrous
songs, Cliff played bass and Jaymz
drummed, when Cliff died Kirk took over the bass duties, Jason performed
as well. Kirk says "Spastic
Children was a good excuse to drink and be silly on stage." Spastic
has not been seen around lately.
What
does "Well'ard Stiffy Boyz" mean?
The phrase, seen on James' guitar, has no real meaning (to those brought
up outside of northern England), it
is generally used to imply a group of "bonded males."
Where
is the "Snake" on the Black Album from?
The "Snake," seen heavily on the Black Album, is from the
Culpepper Minute Men flag from which the motto
"Don't Tread On Me" also originates.
What
is NWOBHM?
It's the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal that Lars is especially quite
fond of. The "NWOBHM" greatly
influenced Metallica, such acts as DiamondHead, Iron Maiden, Angel Witch,
Samson, Saxon can be
considered NWOBHM. This movement is considered to have started mid 1979,
and to have fizzled out by
1982. NWOBHM is considered to be hard-rock's answer to Punk Rock's street
'vibe' and youthful energy.
Who
played with Metallica on their first Day on the Green appearance?
Scorpions, Ratt, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, Victory, and Y &
T.
What's
Lady Justices' nickname?
Doris, as seen on the cover of the Justice album, and on the Damaged
Justice tour.
Who
are DIE KRUPPS?
Die Krupps is a German band that released a nine song tribute CD to
Metallica. Their interpretation of the
songs is considerably different than that of the originals. There is
some guitar, but mostly keyboards,
electronic drums and a strong accent from the vocalist.
Who
are Apocolyptica?
Apocolyptica are four finnish cellists that have recorded an album full
of Metallica songs called "Metallica by
Four Cellos," they've just recently released their latest album
"Inquisition Symphony," with 3 more Metallica
songs. They've even opened up for Metallica on the Poor Touring Me tour.
Who
was Voodoo Children?
Group that only made one performance in benefit to the blues guitarist
John Campbell in summer 1993. The
lineup was: Kirk Hammett-Guitar, Jason Newsted-Bass, Tony Prinzivalli-Guitar,
vocals, Whitey
Chrobak-Keys, Tim Lau-Drums.
What
is the Snake Pit?
The Snake Pit was a large pit in the middle of Metallica's diamond shaped
Wherever I May Roam stage, set
aside for a few lucky fans to stand in the middle of the action on stage.
It is also an on-line meeting place for
Metallica fans on AOL
Is it
true that a group of Metallica roadies formed a band and played before
Metallica?
Yes, at the 1987 Aaardshokk Festival in Zwolle, Holland a group of Metallica
roadies played a set of cover
songs under the name Scrap Metal opened the nine hour festival that
Metallica headlined.
Is it
true Metallica has appeared on Saturday Night Live?
The band was to appear in 1987 but James injured himself in one of his
many skateboard accidents causing
a cancellation. Metallica finally fulfilled the SNL promise on December
6th, 1997 playing The Memory
Remains (with Marianne Faithfull) and Fuel.
